Depression Treatment via Telemedicine: Psychotherapy, Medications Management, Personalized Plans

Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. According to research published by the National Institute of Mental Health, “An estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode”. When an individual suffers from major depression, they may experience major impairments of judgments that could debilitate their way of living.

What Causes Depression?

Anxiety and stress are closely connected to depression. Furthermore, an untreated mood disorder may cause or increase an amplified depressive response in a person. In some cases, depression can be a consequence of an injury or a life-changing event after which the person is no longer able to engage in normal day-to-day tasks. Situations such as loss of employment, loss of a relationship, grief, or even a dear pet passing away may all cause episodes of depression.

Regardless of what has led to the development of your symptoms, seeking help to ensure the prevention of severe signs of depression is very important. At Mango Clinic, our doctors have helped many people deal with depression through therapy and medications with proven effectiveness. Licensed medical doctors can recommend medicines to help offset symptoms, such as insomnia, inability to focus, anger, and hunger issues.

How Can Medication Help With Depression?

Medication can have many benefits for people with depression. Researchers have found that certain medicines act as mood stabilizers to help people with depression relax and ease their anxiety. In fact, most medications have been found to play a significant role in motor control, behavior, processing of information, and emotions. Individuals suffering from severe forms of depression experience side effects such as thoughts of suicide or constantly bringing themselves down. However, many of our patients after actively being on medication, have reported a reduction in depressive symptoms and improvement in the form of more positive effects on their daily lives.

Common medications prescribed to depressed patients include:

• Cymbalta (duloxetine)
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)

Along with consuming recommended medications, a person suffering from depression may also seek additional practices and tools for coping with their symptoms.

Here are a few methods on how to deal with depression on a daily basis:

• Reduce responsibilities and other activities that currently cause stress in your life.
• Know when to take a quick breather when you’re not feeling well.
• Organize a solid daily routine. Setting reminders on your phone can be very helpful.
• Journaling is a general technique but it is also a tremendous help when trying to calm that inner monologue.
• Find support groups that can help you with mental health maintenance.
• DO NOT ISOLATE! Even though isolation can seem normal, it is not a good option. Reach out for help and talk to someone who understands what you are going through.

Don’t let depression keep you down in the dumps — start a new, happy page in your life. Our doctors can help you get over the exhausting symptoms. Schedule an appointment today! Click here for more information on scheduling an appointment at Mango Clinic.

How Depression Treatment via Telemedicine Works

Depression treatment via telemedicine allows one to access mental health services from the comfort and convenience of their homes. Here are some pointers to help you get ready for your virtual clinical sessions.

1. Have no doubt about the quality of telehealth services

To calm your nerves and give you confidence, understand that you will receive all the treatment you would usually receive in the traditional setup. These services include medication, psychotherapy, counseling, or their combination. Your doctor will help you trace the root causes of your depression and triggers, discuss the symptoms and help you find better coping mechanisms.

2. Be ready with the technology preparation

Since you will connect with your care provider online, some technological setup and internet access are necessary. Often the platforms that offer help through telemedicine for depression are similar to what you are already familiar with, including Skype and Zoom. You may need to download the app or find a web portal. As for equipment, you will need a web camera with a microphone, a computer, a laptop, or a smartphone, and a high-speed internet connection.

3. Find a quiet place

Another essential resource you will need is a quiet setting with no disruption. Think of someplace that would be comfortable for video conferencing, though it does not have to be as big as an office. Because you are about to share personal details, you should seek privacy away from family or friends to be comfortable opening up to your doctor.

4. Medical preparation

In depression treatment, telemedicine services focused on diagnostics and one-on-one sessions are similar to traditional ones. It would be best if you approached it like a routine clinical visit to a mental health care provider. Therefore, you need to have your list of questions ready as well as documents related to your health history. It will also help to have a notebook at hand for any important issues you want to clarify.

Getting depression treatment via phone or the internet may seem daunting at first and even cause anxiety. However, you will be surprised how easy it gets once you contact your doctor. It also offers plenty of other advantages that come with getting help being based at home.